Books and beyond

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

Lincoln

Over 160 years since he became President, Abraham Lincoln continues to fascinate Americans. While his status as vampire hunter may be in question, there is no doubt that this month’s debut of the film Lincoln has increased interest once again. By some estimates, over 15,000 Lincoln biographies have been written. Here at JCPL, we’d like to help you narrow down your choices to what we think are a few of the best.

Lincoln by David Herbert Donald Written by a historian of the Civil War and Reconstruction period and considered by some to be the best single-volume account of Lincoln’s life.

Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson This Pulitzer Prize winning tale of the Civil War provides insight into Lincoln’s strategies and conflicts at that time.